# NTSB SEA79DYP23: Piper PA-36, N9901P, Mesa, WA, April 25, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 25, 1979
- Place: Mesa, WA · MESA, WA
- Location: 46.5735° N, 119.0013° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Mesa, WA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5735&lon=-119.0013&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 22, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 135909
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA79DYP23
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA79DYP23

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1640  79/4/25  NR.MESA,WA            PIPER PA-36         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 34, 6085
        TIME - 0930                    N9901P              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 2500 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         MESA,WA                      LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: SWATH RUN
           COLLIDED WITH: FENCE,FENCEPOSTS                          LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL EXHAUSTION
        FACTOR(S)
           POWERPLANT - POWERPLANT-INSTRUMENTS: FUEL QUANTITY GAUGE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ERRATIC
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED       KIND OF OPERATION - FERTILIZING (DUST)
          KIND OF CROP - GRAIN FIELDS                              TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - DRY CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED                             CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                  TERRAIN-TYPE -HILLY
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  900                 SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - UPWIND
        REMARKS- PLT STATED GAUGE SHOWED 25 GALS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9901P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9901P), registered now, S/N 36-7560003, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-36
- Registry model: [Piper PA-36-285](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-36-285) (registry code 7103610) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 6-285-A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-6-285-a) (registry code 17038, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19790425013519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790425013519A), Apr 25, 1979: Piper PA36285, Mesa, WA, Substantial damage. Engine stopped due fuel starvation. Factors unreliable fuel indicator and pilot's failure to stick fuel.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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